Govt explains transformation of Defence College

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter Government has explained its decision to transform the National Defence College into a fully-fledged Zimbabwe National Defence University that is expected to specialise in professional military training and development of the national security strategy.

Steering the Zimbabwe National Defence University Bill through the National Assembly on Thursday, Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi said the world over national defence universities fell under the Ministry of Defence instead of the Higher Education ministry.

“By their nature, national defence universities are not ordinary State universities but are hybrids of military and civilian institutions of higher learning as well as Government specialised agencies on issues of defence and security,” he said.

Minister Sekeramayi said the Constitution of Zimbabwe mandated the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to protect and safeguard the country’s people, its security, its interests as well as territorial integrity.

“In this regard, Mr. Speaker Sir, the Zimbabwe National Defence University is envisaged to be a national strategic analysis and advisory centre that generates solutions to contemporary and diverse national security challenges that Zimbabwe may face at any given time through the provision of platforms for shared participation by the military, civilian and private sector.

“Mr. Speaker Sir, over the last decade, Zimbabwe has been threatened by the European Union and USA’s illegal economic sanctions and political interference that in turn have necessitated the establishment of an institution with the capacity to analyse national problems and develop a capable human capital base of experts, leaders and professionals as well as innovate and develop newer technologies that protect Zimbabwe, its people and interests,” said Minister Sekeramayi.

He added that establishment of national defence universities was not peculiar to Zimbabwe but an international trend where they were established as military institutions with civilian and military staff complements but wholly administered by the military.

Minister Sekeramayi said the envisaged university had five objectives, among them being the national strategic analysis and advisory institution for defence and security. The university would foster the achievement of national interest objectives through government ministries, departments and institutions.

The institution is also expected to provide higher education and training in national policy and strategy formulation for military and civilian leaders to better address national and international security challenges as well as to nurture and preserve the spirit of unity and patriotism in pursuit of sustainable moral, social and economic growth of the nation of Zimbabwe.

The university also seeks inculcate excellence in research, innovation, geopolitical economies, training and leadership developments, and to input into the Zimbabwe National Security Council outcomes of research on issues of national defence and security.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security is now expected to conduct consultations on the Bill.

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Delusions of Grandeur from Defense Minister Sekeramayi. Can anyone really consider economically insignificant bankrupt Zimbabwe with its small population and military recruited from the dregs of Zimbabwe society, can be of any utility against real professional military forces? Who can deny this tinpot army only has a role of repression to deny the people their constitutional freedoms and illegally maintain Zanu-pf in power at all costs? If any real threat was intended by the the US or EU and they took their gloves off, the entire Zimbabwean military forces could be destroyed within 30 minutes and ragtag remnants of ZDF would hide away shivering in the bush while its commander in chief seeks refuge in the nearest sewer pipe.

K Sekeramayi

free your mind ..you sound too political and bitter ….

Togarepi

Cowards like you are a disgrace. If godly brilliant armies were that good why haven’t they finished off ISIS and the Taleban. They are not good fighters as you are made to think but then colonial slaves always think white people are better. Have you forgotten they used to rule here and even had temerity to say they would do so in 1,000 years. I guess they had met people like you.

Zvituko

You know very well if the military were allowed to do their job freely with all weapons at their disposal and didn’t have hands tied by external Christian and political concerns over ‘collateral damage’, a few nukes in the right places would eliminate the Taliban and ISIS straight away.